Sumner, IL to Joliet, IL is 236 miles and takes about 4 hours 59 minutes via I 57 and IL 33, with a fuel budget near $37 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Illinois, moving from the Midwest region to the Midwest region. It's a straightforward drive that should be manageable for most drivers in a single day. You'll mainly be on major highways, making it a practical option for getting from point A to point B efficiently. Consider this route if you're looking for a direct path with minimal complexity.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
118 miles from Sumner, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 38m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 57
128.3 mi
2h 17m
IL 33
36.3 mi
53m
South Van Buren Street
11 mi
15m
US 45
10.1 mi
13m
1100N
10 mi
13m
County Road 1100 East
6.7 mi
9m
Illinois Route 16
5.3 mi
7m
Manhattan Road
5.3 mi
8m
Longest stretch:
I 57
— 128.3 mi, about 2h 17m
Traffic on I-57
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 4 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~865 veh/hr typical
Quietest
1 AM
~101 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
8.6×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 5 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Sumner, IL and Joliet, IL.
1
Start on West North Avenue
49 ft·7 sec·West North Avenue
2
Turn left onto North Christy Avenue
473 ft·14 sec·North Christy Avenue
3
Turn left onto IL 250
1.1 mi·1 min·IL 250
4
Turn right onto IL 250
95 ft·7 sec·IL 250
5
Turn left onto US 50; IL 250
10.0 mi·13 min·1100N
6
Turn right onto East Main Street
1.1 mi·2 min·East Main Street
7
Turn right onto North Lincoln Avenue
481 ft·18 sec·North Lincoln Avenue
8
Turn left onto East Butler Street
1.3 mi·3 min·East Butler Street
9
Turn right onto IL 130
1.3 mi·2 min·North West Street
10
Continue on IL 130
6.7 mi·9 min·County Road 1100 East
11
Continue on IL 130
11 mi·15 min·South Van Buren Street
12
Turn right onto IL 33; IL 130
36 mi·53 min·IL 33; IL 130
13
Turn left onto IL 16
2.5 mi·4 min·Lincoln Avenue
14
Continue on IL 16
5.3 mi·7 min·Illinois Route 16
15
Continue on IL 16
0.4 mi·38 sec·Charleston Avenue East
16
Take the ramp
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I-57 North: Champaign
17
Merge onto I 57
128 mi·2 hr 17 min·I 57
18
Take the exit
0.4 mi·42 sec
Exit 318Toward Bourbonnais Parkway
19
Turn left onto Bourbonnais Parkway
0.6 mi·1 min·Bourbonnais Parkway
20
Turn right onto US 45; US 52
10 mi·13 min·US 45; US 52
21
Turn left onto US 52
1.3 mi·1 min·West Joliet Road
22
Continue on US 52
1.9 mi·2 min·West Arsenal Road
23
Continue on US 52
3.1 mi·4 min·West Joliet Road
24
Continue on US 52
1.2 mi·1 min·US Route 52
25
Continue on US 52
1.9 mi·3 min·South State Street
26
Continue on US 52
2.3 mi·3 min·West North Street
27
Continue on US 52
3.1 mi·4 min·Manhattan Road
28
Turn left onto US 52
2.2 mi·4 min·Manhattan Road
29
Continue on US 52
0.3 mi·42 sec·Gardner Street
30
Turn left onto US 52
0.1 mi·15 sec·Doris Avenue
31
Turn right onto US 52; IL 53
1.2 mi·2 min·South Chicago Street
32
Keep slight right at fork onto US 6; IL 53
272 ft·12 sec·Chicago Street
33
Turn left onto West Washington Street
0.1 mi·25 sec·West Washington Street
34
Turn right onto Joliet Street
520 ft·18 sec·Joliet Street
35
Turn right
272 ft·19 sec
36
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
For this 4 hour 59 minute drive, leaving in the morning should allow you to arrive with plenty of daylight. With only one recommended stop and a total distance of 236 miles, you have flexibility in pacing. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially during the 128.3-mile stretch on I 57, as services can be spaced out on interstates. The transition from I 57 to IL 33 and South Van Buren Street marks the end of the high-speed highway portion, so be prepared to adjust your speed and be more aware of local traffic.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 118 miles from Sumner, IL, or about 2h 38m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 128.3 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 52 miles or 1h 17m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 118 miles or 2h 38m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 59m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Joliet, IL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Sumner, IL so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Sumner, IL
This is one driving day of about 236 miles and 4h 59m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 52 miles from Sumner, IL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 57 for about 128.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 21
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 235.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|North Christy Avenue
Turn left onto North Christy Avenue
Navigation decision point
4
1.2 mi into trip|~2m in|US 50; IL 250 / 1100N
Turn left onto US 50; IL 250 / 1100N
Navigation decision point
4
12.4 mi into trip|~18m in|East Butler Street
Turn left onto East Butler Street
Navigation decision point
5
205.9 mi into trip|~4h 13m in
Take the exit toward Bourbonnais Parkway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 318
Toward Bourbonnais Parkway
5
235.8 mi into trip|~4h 59m in|Joliet Street
Turn right onto Joliet Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$34.85 one way
$69.70 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg83 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$38.48
$76.95
premium
$4.72
$43.82
$87.64
diesel
$4.80
$44.56
$89.12
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$35
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$60–$85
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 82.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $25 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
70.8
0
$24.78
$11.33
Efficient EV
59
0
$20.65
$9.44
EV Truck/SUV
94.4
1
$33.04
$15.10
Gas CO2
83 kg
EV CO2
28 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Sumner, IL
Evening
in Sumner on Monday
Local time
7:07 PM
CDT
Current temp
92°F
Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
W 12 mph21% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 18 at 10:14AM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 18 at 10:10AM CDT until July 19 at 10:00AM CDT by NWS Chicago IL
Destination
Joliet, IL
Evening
in Joliet on Monday
Local time
7:07 PM
CDT
Current temp
91°F
Partly Sunny then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
WNW 10 to 15 mph67% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 18 at 10:14AM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 18 at 10:10AM CDT until July 19 at 10:00AM CDT by NWS Chicago IL
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
1 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
4h 59m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Pullman National Historical Park
National Historical Park
In a growing Chicago neighborhood, diverse people and stories intertwined. All were seeking opportunity. Some succeeded. Others were limited—by race, gender, or economic status. Their stories came tog...
27 mi from route
~67 min detour
Free
near mile 227.9
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is mostly highway, with 78% of the 236 miles on major roads like I 57. You'll experience a longest stretch of 128.3 miles on I 57, indicating extended periods of consistent cruising. After leaving I 57, you'll transition to surface roads, specifically IL 33 and South Van Buren Street, for the final portion of the trip. Expect a notable shift in environment as you move from the interstate to local roads.
78% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
36 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 128.3 mi on I 57.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 57 and IL 33. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near North Christy Avenue.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 59m drive. You will face about 21 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (North Christy Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 1.2 miles (US 50; IL 250 / 1100N): Navigation decision point; at 12.4 miles (East Butler Street): Navigation decision point.
Joliet is a city in the Chicagoland region of Illinois, a state in the Midwest of the United States of America. It is the largest city and county seat of Will County.
Top landmarks
•Joliet Union Station — former train station in the United States
•Christ Episcopal Church — church building in Joliet, Illinois, United States of America
•Joliet Central High School — public school in Joliet, Illinois
The longest stretch is about 128.3 miles on I 57. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 18 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (North Christy Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 1.2 miles (US 50; IL 250 / 1100N): Navigation decision point; at 12.4 miles (East Butler Street): Navigation decision point.
Yes — Pullman National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 5.0 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 10.0 hours — manageable with a long break at Joliet, IL, but most travelers stay overnight.
